Recessed lighting fixture having hinged light diffuser cover



P. A. JONES Dec. 18, 1962 RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING I-IINGED LIGHT DIFFUSER COVER Filed Jan. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'flL P. A. JONES Dec. 18, 1962 RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING HINGED LIGHT DIFFUSER COVER 2 m I 75.).) e e m 2 w l 4 7/ 4 M117 i wif i 2Vr,7-. I @L m U l u 0 :l 0. n l uw i ,l w T l l m.-

, 3 RECESSED LIGHHNG si lt.

The present invention generally relates to the construction of recessed lighting fixtures adapted for iiush mounting in a ceiling or the like, and is more particularly directed towards the manner and means of mounting a translucent cover member on such a fixture so as to permit ready access to the interior thereof such as for changing the light bulb.

As is well known in the art, recessed lighting fixtures conventionally include a housing provided with a lamp socket adapted for electrical connection to a power source. ln most instances, the lower opening to the housing is disposed substantially ilnsh with a ceiling and is covered by a translucent member which seems to diffuse the light emitting from the lamp, as well as imparting an ornamenlal effect to the unit. Obviously, since the translucent member or cover, when in operative position relative to the housing, completely cuts off access to the housing chamber and the lamp disposed therein, the cover must be arranged for either complete removal or movement to an inoperative position so that the lamp may be periodically replaced.

It will be appreciated that if the cover is attached to the housing with mounting screws or the like, the job of replacing a lamp becomes ditlicult, particularly when the ceiling is a high one, and no use can be made of lamp holding poles which are frequently employed for replacement of burnt out ceiling lamps. Therefore, it has been previously suggested to hinge the cover to the housing so as to permit access to the housing chamber without requiring the entire removal of the cover. While this latter type of construction has obvious advantages over a threaded connection between the cover and housing or a fastener screw arrangement, difficulty has heretofore been er1- counered in providing a proper lock or latch mechanism for releasably retaining the cover in closed position, in preventing injury to the glass in other translucent diffuser member during opening and closing thereof, and in otherwise damaging the parts during movement, especially when such movement is being effected by a person using a long pole or the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recessed lighting fixture having a housing and a diffuser supporting frame in which one portion of the frame is hingedly supported by the housing and another portion ofthe frame and its associated housing portion are provided with improved cooperating latch elements whereby the frame will be positively retained in a closed position but which may be easily swung downwardly to an open position by merely pushing upwardly on the frame, thereby permitting the use of relamping poles for opening and closing the housing as well as replacement of the lamps therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fixture of the character described in which the housing is provided with an outer frame member having a flange positioned in the general plane of the ceiling opening and the diffuser is provided with a similar flange disposed within the confines of the outer frame flange and substantially immediately adjacent thereto, and in which means are provided for resiliently urging the diffuser frame into proper central position within the outer frame during closing movement thereof so that no large spacing will exist nite rates tent :intatta patented Dec. l, i962 between the respective flanges when the cover is closed, nor will any hinge mechanism be visible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit as hereinabove described in which shock absorbing means are provided so as to cushion the downward swinging movement of the cover, while still permitting deliberate full opening thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a recessed fixture of the type described in which the diffuser element is resiliently mounted in its supporting frame in such manner as to facilitate installation and removal thereof while at the same time protecting the glass or similar material comprising the diffuser from breakage due to frame jarring or the like.

The invention possesses other objects: and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

FIGURE l is a top plan View of the fixture of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 2--2 of FIG- URE l, and illustrating the diffuser in closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a Vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 3--3 of FIGURE l, but illustrating the diffuser in an open. position.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 4--4 of FIGURE 3, and on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism, taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 5-5 of FGURE l, and showing the parts in their closed or operative relationship: and on an enlarged scale.

FGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 6--6 of FIGURE 5.

FGURE 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 7 7 of FIG- URE 5.

FiGURE 8 is a view similar to FiGURE 5, but illustrating the position of the parts during release of the latch mechanism. 4

The present invention is herein disclosed in connection with a recessed lighting xture of the type adapted for flush ceiling mounting, and which includes a generaily conventional rectangular lamp housing l2, having side walls t3, insertible into an opening provided in the ceiling. As is well known in the art, the housing is usually provided with a top wall, not shown, which defines with the walls 13 a downwardly directed lamp chamber i4. A lamp socket, likewise not illustrated, is mounted in the chamber for receiving a lamp. This general type of construction is well known, and as an example thereof, reference is made to my prior Patent No. 2,561,986.

As hereinabove mentioned, in practically all instances, an etched glass or other type of translucent light diffuser is positioned across the lower end of the housing to form a bottom closure for the chamber 14. While this provides an ornamental appearance as well as serving to diffuse the light rays, it will be understood that lamps must be periodically replaced, and therefore the diffuser member must be removable from its normal closure defining position.

fn accordance with the present invention, access may be had to the chamber 14 by providing a pivotal connection between the housing and diffuser so as to permit the latter to swing downwardly from a closed position assalito as shown in FlGURE 2 to an open position as best shown in F^URE 4, and the novel features of this connection will be hereinafter more fully described. With a pivotal arrangement, additional means must of necessity be provided to releasably retain the diffuser in its closed position, and this construction will likewise be later described in detail.

The housing l2 is provided with an outwardly extending horizontal flange 16 extending completely around the housing, the upper surface of such flange bearing against the ceiling, and the innermost portions defining a rectangular opening in communication with the chamber i4. As here illustrated, the flange is not formed as an integral portion lof the housing but rather as a portion of an outer frame member l which includes a web l positioned adjacent the inner surface of the housing and wiiich extends vertically upwardly from the inner portions of ilange i6. Frame i7 may be iixedly mounted on the housing in any suitable manner such as by machine screws 19 extending through apertures provided in an inwardly directed horizontal wall extension 2l at the upper end of the web with the screws engaging threaded openings in brackets Z2, the latter having a first portion lying against and mounted on the housing wall and a second normally related portion in which the screw may be engaged. For a purpose later to be explained, the innermost end of the extension or wall 2i is provided with a downtuined lip 2.3 so that the upper end of web 1S is formed with an inverted channel.

A glass or similar light diffusing element 26 is adapted to be positioned within the opening defined by frame 17, and such glass is preferably supported in what might be termed an inner frame 27 since the latter is adapted t-o be contained entirely within the outer or fixed frame 17. The inner frame may simply include a web 28 and an outwardly `directed flange 29, the latter serving as a support for the glass 2o. Since the inner frame is the movable member and exposed to impacts or other shock A loads, the glass is preferably resiliently retained in its position against flange 29. This resilient mounting is effected by means of a plurality of U-shaped clips 31 releasably engageable with inwardly offset portions of web 28, the innermost leg of each clip having a curvato leaf spring 32 adapted to resiliently bear against the upper surface of the glass. ln this manner the glass may be readily installed on frame 27, and yet be cushioned against loads, such as when a person pushes upwardly against the glass in either moving the glass to its closed position or in effecting release of the latch mechanism. Also, it will be noted that the outer legs of the clips are positioned inwardly of web 2S so as not to interfere with the inner frame movement.

Inner frame 27 and the glass mounted thereon are mounted for pivotal movement between the closed position shown in FIGURE 2 wherein flange 2% is immediately adiacent and ccs-planar with the outer frame flange lo, and an open angularly related position shown in FlG- URES 3 and 4 to provide access to the housing chamber 14. By virtue of the desirable positioning of the flanges when the inner frame is closed as just described, the swinging or pivotal movement of inner frame 27 cannot be effected by a simple hinge mechanism since the pivot axis must shift during frame movement. To accomplish the foregoing, and likewise permit installation of frame 27 on frame il? after the latter is mounted in a ceiling, the Ifollowing construction is utilized. As will be noted, two opposed sides of the fixed frame web l are provided with slots di. positioned adjacent what will be hereafter regarded the rear end portion of the frame. The inner frame is provided with opposed outwardly extending pins 42 engageable in said slots and of a size to permit sliding movement along the slots as well as pivotal movement. Attention is directed to the fact that one of the slots is substantially longer than the other slot. The longer slot allows easier installation of the inner frame, while the shorter slot effectively prevents accidental dislodgrnent of the frame by limiting the amount of forward pin travel during opening ofthe frame. u

During downward movement of frame 27 during opening thereof, the support for the frame resides solely in the pin and slot connection, and consequently, gravital force tends to rapidly swing the frame until flange 29 thereof abuis the fixed frame web l in parallel relation.. This rapid swinging and sudden stoppage could result iii POS-l sible damage to or excessive wear on the various parts of( the xture, and consequently, as an important partici invention a cushioning or shock absorbing means is prof vided which yieldably stops the frame in an intermediate open position (shown in FGURE 4) while permitting deliberate full opening thereof with the flange 29 and web fd in the aforementioned abutting relationship.

Such means, as here shown, comprises a leaf spring t4 having one end thereof attached by a screw and nul 45 to the fixed frame lip 23. The main body 47 of the spring is curved along the length thereof and its distal end is provided with a reversed curved portion 48. Adjacent the distal end, a tongue 49 extends outwardly from the upper edge of the body and is normally positioned between the lower edge of the outer frame lip 23 and the upper edge of the inner frame web The connecteA end portion of the spring is provided with a normally related and outwardly directed ilange 5l which limits downward swinging of the body about the bolt 46. Before the inner frame is installed, the spring may be positioned so that the tongue overlies the wall 2l with the spring body lying against the lip 23. After installation of the inner frame, the spring is flexed inwardly relative to' its associated frame portion until the tongue clears the` wall 2l, and then swung downwardly until the spring action forces the tongue between lip 23 and web 2S of the respective frame members.

As will be understood from the foregoing, as the inner frame 27 swings downwardly, the upper edge web 23 thereof will bear against the spring body adjacent the ends of the latter with the desired resulting cushioning effect. However, the frame may be readily deliberately moved to a full open position merely by forcing the same against the resistance of the spring.

A further important feature of advantage is found in connection with the just described leaf spring arrangement. As previously discussed, the pins 42 move forwardly along the slots 4i during opening of the frame and obviously must be moved rearwardly during closing of the frame. While the spring body bears against the upper edge of the web 2t? as the frame approaches its full open position, it will be seen that the spring body bears against the inner surface of the web as the frame moves towards its closed position thereby urging the web and the pins carried thereon rearwardly and permitting proper closure and alignment of the frame flanges.

lt should also be noted that since the length of tongue 49 is restricted by the distance between the outer frame web Slg and ylip Z3, the wall 2l and lip 23 is provided witlil a projection 53 which prevents accidental dislodgmentV of the tongue while the inner frame is being opened.

With the foregoing construction, it will be appreciated that the inner frame Z7 may be readily moved between its open and closed position. Therefore, there will now be discussed the means and manner of releasably retaining the frame in its normal closed position, such means comprising an important feature of the present invention..

The retaining means generally include cooperating latch members 56 and 57 carried by and positioned o-n theforward end of the inner and outer frame members respectively. The latch members are arranged to lock thel inner frame against downward swinging movement upon initial engagement of the members, and permit ready release upon further upward movement of the inner frame past its horizontal normally closed position. The detailsI of construction `of the members 56 and 57. alie best illusu trated in FGURES 5 through 8 of the drawings, the iirst three of said figures showing the position of the parts in the normal closed position of the frame with anges 16 `and 29 substantially coplanar, and the latter gure showing the releasing position of the parts upon raising of the inner frame.

Referring first to latch member 56, the same will be seen to include a housing 6l extending upwardly from the horizontal xed frame wall 2l. A pin 62 extends between opposed walls of the housing forwardly and rearwardly, as the term is used herein, and parallel to wall 2l, and serves as a pivot for a lever 63 which is positioned between web 18 and lip 23 and whose lower end extends below the lower edge of the lip. Lever 63 has a forwardly directed detent 64 adjacent the lower end thereof, and the outer face of the detent slopes rearwardly and downwardly, as best seen in FIGURE 6. A torsion spring 66 normally urges the lever in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 5, while a coil spring 67 is utilized to normally force the lever forwardly, i.e., in the direction of the detent.

Lever 63 is designed to cooperate with latch member 57 for effecting the previously discussed locking and releasing actions. Member 57 includes a pair of spaced posts 7l extending upwardly from flange 29 and inwardly' of web 28, the upper ends of the post terminating above the upper edge of the web. The right hand portion of the member, as seen in FIGURE 5, is in general alignment with the normal position of lever 63 and the upper portion thereof is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly directed cam 72 which intercepts the comparably sloped detent face as the parts are moved into engagement thereby forcing the lever rearwardly against pressure of spring 67. As the detent rides downwardly along the cam, the spring 67 will then urge the detent into a recess 73 provided in member 57 immediately subjacent said cam. `Vith the detent so positioned, no downward movement of the inner frame is possible and the apparatus will be in its normal closed and locked position.

In order to open the inner frame, it is only necessary to push upwardly on the inner frame adjacent its latch member. Such further upward movement of the frame, as shown in FIGURE 8, will cause the detent to move downwardly and clockwise against action of torsion spring 66 due to engagement of the detent with a downwardly and laterally inclined cam 76 positioned subjacent the recess 73. At the same time, the detent will be forced rearwardly and out of the recess by engagement with another cam 77 positioned to the left of the recess and which slopes rearwardly and laterally. With the detent free of the recess, further relative downward movement is prevented by engagement thereof with a pocket 78 at the bottom of cam 76. The cams 76 and 77 prevent the springs 66 and 67 from returning the detent to the recess, and when the lever is positioned as shown in FIGURE 8, the lever will be on the left hand side of member 56 and free to pass the same, permitting release of the inner frame. As soon as the inner frame has effected separation of the lever and member S7, the lever is free to again move under influence of spring 66 to be in position to engage cam 72 when the frame is again raised.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that opening and closing of the unit may both be effected by merely pushing upwardly on the frame 27 without any kind of tools or special equipment. Consequently, the present xture lends itself to lamp replacement with conventional relamping poles, since the resilient mounting of the glass, the cushioning against jar upon opening, and the resilient urging of the inner frame into its proper position for closure, all permit such remote and relatively rough handling without danger of damage to the glass of other parts of the structure.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a first generally rectangular frame member having a web and an outwardly directed flange, opposed sides of said web adjacent the rear ends thereof being provided with slots extending generally parallel to said ange, a secondgenerally rectangular frame member having a web tting within the web of said first frame member and an inwardly directed ange, opposed extensions on the web of said second frame engageable in said slots, the front portions of said webs being provided with cooperating latch elements for releasably retaining said frame members in closed relation with the anges thereof substantially adjacent and coplanar, said second frame being freely swingable upon release of said latch elements about said extensions, said extensions being disposed adjacent the rear of said slots when said second frame is closed and being slidable forwardly along said slots as said frame is opened, and resilient means interposed between said frame members and engaged with the inner surface of the web of said second member and normally urging said extensions rearwardly in said slots, said means yieldably resisting swinging opening of said second member and engaged with an edge of said web to yieldably retain said member in a predetermined partially open position.

2. In a lighting fixture housing including an outer frame adapted for installation in a ceiling opening and an inner frame adapted to support a light diffusing element, and means pivotally connecting said inner frame to said outer frame adjacent an end thereof for swinging said inner frame between a closed position substantially copla-nar with said outer frame and an open position angular-ly related thereto; the combination therewith of cooperating latch means on said frames adjacent the other end thereof releasably retaining said frames in closed relation, said latch means including a lever pivotally mounted on one of said frames for rocking movement about an axis parallel to the plane of said one frame, said lever having a detent adjacent an end thereof extending generally parallel to said axis, means resiliently urging said lever in one direction about its pivotal mounting and in a second direction normally related thereto and towards the direction of said detent, said latch means further including a latch member mounted on the other of said frames having a cam intercepting said detent during closing movement of said frames and moving said lever oppositely to said second direction, means deiining a recess adjacent said cam for receiving said detent when said frames are in fully closed relation, and a second cam on said latch member moving said lever contra to both said first and second direction upon movement of said inner frame past its fully closed position.

3. In a recessed lighting fixture having a housing adapted for insertion into a ceiling opening, said housing including a generally rectangular outer frame including a web portion and an outwardly extending flange adapted to lie substantially iiush with a ceiling around an opening therein, opposed sides of said webs having narrow slots extending from adjacent the rear ends thereof and terminating medially of the length of such sides, said housing further including an inner frame adapted to support a light diffusing element, pin means extending from opposed sides of said inner frame and engaged in said slots for pivotally supporting said inner frame on .said outer frame for swinging movement between a closed position wherein said frames are substantially coplanar and an open position wherein said frames are angularly related, said inner frame having a ange within and substantially coplanar and immediately adjacent said outer frame ange in closed position of said inner frame, cooperating latch means releasably retaining said frames in closed relation, said inner frame being movable from said closed position to a full open position substantially at right angles to the closed positions thereof; the combination therewith of means interposed between said frames resiliently limiting opening of said inner frame to a position intermediate said full open and closed positions while yieldably permitting the full opening thereof, said last named means enaosasao gaging said inner frame for resiliently urging the latter and the pin means carried thereby towards an end of said slots.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 in which said last named means includes a curvate leaf-like spring having one end portion attached to said outer frame and another portion thereof bearing against said inner frame.

5. In a lighting fixture housing having an outer traine adapted for xed mounting in a ceiling opening, an inner glass-supporting-iran1e, and means pivotally mounting said inner frame to said outer frame for movement between a closed position wherein said inner frame is disposed within and substantially coplanar with said outer frame and an open position wherein said frames are angularly related; the combination therewith of latch means on said frames releasably retaining said inner frame in said closed position, said latch means including a detent carried by one of said frames, spring means normally urging said detent in a iirst direction parallel to the axis of said pivotal mounting means and in a second direction normal to said axis and towards a portion of the other of said frames, said other frame having a recess receiving said detent upon movement thereof to said closed position for releasably locking said frames, and said other frame further having means for urging said detent in directions contra to said rst and second directions and out of said recess upon movement of said inner frame past the normally closed position thereof.

6. A fixture housing as set forth in claim 5 in which said last named means includes a pair of cams positioned adjacent said recess and engaging said detent upon said latter movement of said inner frame.

7. In a lighting ixture housing comprising an outer frame having a web and an outwardly directed flange, an inner frame having a web and an inwardly directed ange and adapted to support a light ditiusing element, and means pivotally mounting sa-id inner frame on said outer frame for movement between a closed position wherein said inner frame web is disposed within and closely adjacent said outer frame web and said flanges are disposed in substantially coplanar relation and an open position wherein the general planes of said frames are angularly related; the combination therewith of spring means mounted on a portion of one of said webs and engaging an adjacent portion of the other web and normally urging the two web portions together, and said spring means engaging said portion of said other web upon opening of said inner frame to yieldably resist said opening movement and to resiliently limit the extent of such movement. 8. A fixture housing as set forth in claim 7 in which said spring means includes a curvate leaf spring having an end portion normally bearing against an inner surface of said inner frame web portion, and said leaf spring having an angularly related projection engaging an edge of said inner frame web portion so as to resiiiently retain the inner frame in a predetermined open position.

References *Cited in the tiie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,910,542 Hendee May 23, 1933 2,510,873 Early lune 6, 1950 2,644,076 Keegan June 30, 1953 2,664,590 Allen Jan. 5, 1954 2,794,664 Kruger June 4, 1957 2,816,216 Dasher Dec. 10, 1957 2,817,554 Hasselmark Dec. 24, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 529,447 Canada Aug. 21, 1956 774,198 Great Britain May 8, 1957 

